Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Shoalhaven Heads suburb profile
Shoalhaven Heads, NSW · Postcode 2535
This Shoalhaven Heads suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Shoalhaven Heads, NSW (postcode 2535). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Shoalhaven Heads with nearby suburbs.
Shoalhaven Heads at a glance
Population
3,248
Median rent
$365/wk
Household income
$1,066/wk
Median age
56
Shoalhaven Heads trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+9.1% over 10 years
Population
3,248
was 3,059 in 2016
+189 · +6.2%
Median rent
$365/wk
was $300/wk in 2016
+$65 · +21.7%
Household income
$1,066/wk
was $842/wk in 2016
+$224 · +26.6%
Median age
56
was 56 in 2016
0 · 0%
Dig deeper: Shoalhaven Heads population growth · Shoalhaven Heads then and now
Shoalhaven Heads vs nearby & NSW
Median Census 2021 figures for Shoalhaven Heads, nearby suburbs (8), and the NSW state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-13.1% vs area
- Shoalhaven Heads$365/wk
- Nearby$382.5/wk
- NSW$420/wk
Household income
-42.2% vs area
- Shoalhaven Heads$1,066/wk
- Nearby$1,259.5/wk
- NSW$1,843/wk
Median age
+40% vs area
- Shoalhaven Heads56
- Nearby53
- NSW40
Personal income
-24.3% vs area
- Shoalhaven Heads$612/wk
- Nearby$649.5/wk
- NSW$808/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in NSW.
Socio-economic profile
How Shoalhaven Heads compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Shoalhaven Heads sits around the national middle for socio-economic advantage. It shows limited economic resources.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 4991.3
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 4958.1
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 3980.4
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 4954.8
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Shoalhaven Heads on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Shoalhaven Heads, NSW.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Shoalhaven Heads people
- Population
- 3,248
- Median age
- 56
- Born overseas
- 13.3%
- Average household size
- 2.1
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Shoalhaven Heads income
- Median household income
- $1,066/wk
- Median personal income
- $612/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Shoalhaven Heads housing
- Median rent
- $365/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,950/mo
- Separate houses
- 56.7%
- Flats & apartments
- 0.9%
- Owned outright
- 46%
- Mortgaged
- 20%
- Rented
- 15.4%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 15.6%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Shoalhaven Heads work
- Employment to population
- 42.2%
- Unemployment rate
- 3.7%
- Year 12 or above
- 37.8%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 2535)
Compare Shoalhaven Heads with nearby suburbs
Shoalhaven Heads in numbers
Shoalhaven Heads had 3,248 residents at the 2021 Census. The median age is 56, 37% above the typical NSW suburb. The average household has 2.1 people. 13.3% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 46% own their home outright, 20% are paying a mortgage, 15.4% rent. Separate houses make up 56.7% of dwellings, with 0.9% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $365/wk, 9% below the typical NSW suburb.
Median household income was $1,066/wk, 41% below the typical NSW suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 3.7%. 37.8% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 4 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 6.2% (from 3,059 to 3,248). Median rent moved from $300/wk to $365/wk (+21.7%).
Shoalhaven Heads suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Shoalhaven Heads, NSW?
- The median weekly rent in Shoalhaven Heads was $365/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Shoalhaven Heads, NSW?
- Shoalhaven Heads had 3,248 residents at the 2021 Census, up 6.2% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Shoalhaven Heads?
- Median household income in Shoalhaven Heads was $1,066/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Shoalhaven Heads?
- 15.4% of occupied homes in Shoalhaven Heads were rented, 46% were owned outright and 20% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Shoalhaven Heads suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Shoalhaven Heads. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology